Return To The Forbidden Planet
About the Production
Since its debut in an inflatable tent on Blackheath back in May 1983, this strange, hybrid ‘juke-box’ musical, ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’, has acquired something of a cult following, similar in some ways to its far raunchier predecessor ‘The Rocky Horror Show’. The Bubble Theatre Company used a cast of ten who acted, sang and played all the instruments. For a number of reasons, TWC have decided to spread the workload a bit further.
Writer and director Bob Carlton took as his inspiration the 1956 science fiction movie ‘Forbidden Planet’ (Starring Leslie Neilsen as John J Adams, commander of the United Planets starship ‘C-57D’), itself drawn on loosely on William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. He’s then plundered several of the Bard’s works for dialogue, and then added a score composed of numerous songs from the 1950s and 1960s, such as ‘Wipe Out’, ‘Great Balls of Fire’, ‘Shakin’ All Over’, ‘Good Vibrations’, ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ and ‘Born to be Wild’. It probably shouldn’t work. The story only just about makes sense. But is it fun? Heck, yeah!
So join Captain Tempest, commander of the starship ‘Albatross’, and his crew, on a routine scientific survey flight across the stars that becomes anything but routine. A meteor shower drives the ship down toward the planet D’Illyria, where they encounter the enigmatic Doctor Prospero and his daughter Miranda, along with Ariel the robot. They have been marooned on the planet for years, having been sent into space by Prospero’s scheming wife Gloria, but now they are rescued, and everything will be fine. Won’t it?
Warning. As passengers on the ‘Albatross’, you will be required, when the order is given, to undertake the Reverse Polarity manoeuvre to ensure the ongoing safety of the ship.
Step 1 Put both your hands in the air
Step 2 Place your hands on the top of your head
Step 3 Press, using a downward motion, several times
Step 4 On the command ‘Polarity Reverse!’, equalise the external equilibrium by quickly raising both hands and arms and exhaling thus – ‘Phewwwww!!’
The Cast
Behind the Scenes
Image Gallery
The Reviews
This cult rock musical may not be everybody’s toast and marmalade with its two-dimensional characters but the Theatre Workshop Coulsdon make it a night out to remember. It is loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest with dialogue lifted from all his plays; it is set in Startrek land and the back stage crew have a ball, with a great set, sparky costumes, effective lighting and spooky sound.
Richard Lloyd as Prospero aids our enjoyment by playing it seriously. Here is an actor whose eyes actually flash. Miranda (Kimberley Argles) is his daughter who plays the young crumpet and Marilyn Munroe look-a-like perfectly. The roller-skating robot Ariel (Lisa Lloyd) did not disappoint, while Stellar (Emma Rose) and Britt-Anya (Lucy-Ann Martin) were the sort of flight attendants we all know and love; but ours can also sing; in fact the whole cast are good at the vocals.
Cookie (Chris Blakeney) was the Buttons-type character who enlisted sympathy and Tanya Allison was suitably sinister as the science officer.
Captain Tempest (Neil Grew) had the difficult part of the pipe-smoking commander and lover of Miranda. I’m not sure the pipe helped but he manfully did his best.
The Planettes were an unobtrusive but effective backing group.
Peter Steptoe for The Croydon Advertiser
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